Climate Emergency Action Plan (July 2021)

Reducing consumption

As an organisation we will seek to reduce our purchase and use of high energy commodities, for example single use plastics and meat based products.

Annual review of single use plastics strategy.

Council has committed to eliminate the use of single use plastics by 2025

Annual

Ongoing

Medium term

Provide free public access water fountains

Post pandemic implement 50 fountains pledge, providing free public access water fountains across the borough

Schools and colleges, local businesses

Medium term, or earlier as safe to do so

We will move to a more plant based menu for functions and meetings, and to purchase products made within the UK in order to reduce transport miles

As a Council we seek to set an example as to how to offer healthy, more plant based menu items whilst supporting local food businesses and reducing food miles

Annual

Ongoing

We will also work with partners, businesses and residents to encourage responsible consumption and share best practice.

Campaigns and events to support buying local, buying seasonal

Schools and colleges, local businesses, voluntary sector, residents

Short term

Work with schools, colleges and partners to encourage more low carbon cooking and meals, and reduce food waste

Both by schools/colleges and outside these environments by the students and staff

LCC, school meal providers, schools and colleges

Short term

Review Council procurement procedures

To ensure environmental implications are adequately considered and weighted for all procurement activities

Short term

Review of Council’s use of insecticides and herbicides

To consider environmental implications

Short term

Work to improve the carbon emissions of Council events

Provision of environmental assessments for all large Council organised events by 2027

Council organised events to be carbon neutral by 2030

Medium term

Long term

Reduce consumption of paper and cardboard across all Council activities

This will include a paper audit during 2022, to inform and influence change

We will reduce paper and cardboard consumption by 10% each year to 2024,

We will reduce paper and cardboard consumption by a further 5% each year to 2027

Short term

Short term

Medium term

Reduce consumption by use of repair groups

Facilitate local repair café/ groups to encourage repair instead of replacement

Local businesses, voluntary sector

Short term

Use of street trading consents to prevent use of single use plastics

Post pandemic, revision of Council street trading consent conditions to reduce use of single use plastics

Local businesses

Medium term, or earlier as safe to do so

Work to reduce packaging of goods

Work with local manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and retailers to reduce packaging of goods, enabling consumer choice and reducing purchase of unnecessary packaging.

Local businesses

Short term

Investigate potential reduction in consumption within the agricultural improvements

Investigate potential savings and improvements across the agricultural sector, and how the Council can support the agricultural sector

NFU, agricultural sector

Short term

Learning from best practice

Learning from best practices in Councils and organisations where successful progress has been made

Local Authorities, school and colleges, businesses

Ongoing

Annual

Repair and re-use

Reduce consumption by use of repair groups

Facilitate local repair café/ groups to encourage repair instead of replacement

Local businesses, voluntary sector

Short term

Facilitate a cycle repair facility

Facilitate local facilities to encourage repair instead of replacement

Local businesses, residents Inc SRBC

Short term

Working for national change

Respond to consultations

To facilitate / promote delivery of above actions at earliest opportunity

Ongoing

Annual